In Gloria's Place I can be a mom, a woman, a daughter, a wife, a writer, a customer, an observer and a person all at the same time, without judgement or remorse.
If you want to teach your children about different cultures at a very young age start with the Baby Einstein World Music DVD from the interactive World Music product line. The World Music DVD comes out March 31, 2009
"We feel a great importance in teaching our children about different cultures, as we want them to grow up with the understanding, respect, and appreciation of every person and culture they meet. And as the language of music transcends cultures and borders, it serves as an excellent way to engage our children and expose them to global diversity."
I really like the DVD. I think it is a nice easy introduction for babies and toddlers of people, animals, places, songs and music from around the world. Again I don't agree putting a baby in front of the TV is a good thing, but if your babysitters/baby's grandparents are going to place your baby in front of the tube there might as well be something educational like this for them to play on TV for your baby watch. The DVD can be viewed in English, French and Spanish. I really like that. I think it is important for kids to learn various languages from early on. I also like the map puzzle used throughout the DVD. It’s a nice easy introduction to geography.
The Baby Einstein puppets are cute. I showed them to my 3 month old and he smiled. The monkey, Jane the Monkey, is my favorite. I wish I had one of my own to play peek-a-boo with my baby. The kids that are playing instruments, singing and dancing throughout the DVD are also very cute.
The DVD has two settings: Grow with Me and Select-a-Segment. The "grow with me" setting offers a second viewing mode containing spoken words and additional content that grows with babies, while "select-a-segment" gives parents the choice of viewing shorter segments, such as five or ten minutes, as opposed to longer programming.
The World Music CD is a nice to have with this package too. There are 22 songs from around the world for your kids to listen to. My four year old liked it so much she danced to some of the music.
How well do you care for your mouth and teeth? Me? Not as well as I should. It helps though, to be a part of tours like LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE Blog Tour.
Mom Central sent me a bottle of LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE a couple of weeks ago and since then it has been in my downstairs bathroom behind my eco-friendly toothbrush and eco-friendly toothpaste. The purple liquid (eco-friendly?) makes it difficult to forget to use, because it doesn't blend in with anything in my bathroom. It stands out. I need something like that. If it doesn't stand out I forget about it.
Does it work? So far so good. I've only had the opportunity to sample it for a few weeks, but my mouth does feel fresh after each use. Does it taste good? it isn't my favorite flavor, a little too sweet, but it is much better than the original. Remember that one? The golden colored one. That stuff is strong. Now Listerine has this stuff,LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE, Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash. It is the only fluoride mouthwash that contains six benefits in one:
Helping to prevent cavities
Restoring enamel
Strengthening teeth
Killing bad breath germs
Freshening breath
Fighting unsightly plaque above the gum line
By the way do you know how to use mouthwash properly? I ask because a couple of years ago I realized my husband didn't. He would pour way too much into the top. Swish it in his mouth for about 2 seconds and then spit it all out. I've tried telling him to follow the instructions. but its like talking to a wall.
It's important to follow the instructions of use for a mouthwash. Not using enough and not swishing long enough doesn't allow the mouthwash to work to its full potential. So if you don't see results it isn't the mouthwash's fault. Its yours and all you have done is waste your money. Okay I'll get off my soapbox now.
• LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE is intended for adults and children ages 12 and older.
• Vigorously swish 10 mL (2 teaspoonfuls) of rinse between your teeth for one minute and then spit out. Do not eat or drink for 30 minutes after rinsing.
• To help prevent dental cavities and achieve a WHOLE MOUTH CLEAN™, LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE™ should be used twice daily after brushing your teeth for two minutes. Floss daily.
I underlined and boldfaced the important parts in hopes that my husband and people like my husband may read this posting and notice the instructions.
I've spread the word on the new LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE on behalf of Mom Central and Johnson’s. You can find this new, fresh Listerine Total Care at all food, drug and mass merchandise outlets.
How does your first aid kit look? Is it up to date or are the medicines inside the kit expired? Not sure? Maybe you should take a look. According to Mom Central, "40% of homes have an expired topical antibiotic in the medicine cabinet, an important issue as some products may lose their effectiveness once they reach their expiration date." Why keep the medicines then?
I checked mine. First of all I had to find my kit. The medicines and bandages were scattered in medicine cabinets of two full baths upstairs and a half bath downstairs. Were the medicines up to date? For the most part, yes they were up to date. I don't buy anything, but alcohol and bandages usually. I had one or two items out of date. When I received the NEOSPORIN® in the mail form Mom's Central I replaced the expired stuff with the samples: NEOSPORIN® + Pain Relief Ointment, NEOSPORIN® + Pain Relief Cream, and the newly available NEOSPORIN® NEO TO GO!® First Aid Antiseptic/Pain Relieving Spray. I thought the Neo To Go was a nice idea and put the product in my purse right away. I know I'm bound to use it. At home it’s easy to wash out a wound but away from home there isn't always adequate supply of cleaning material so it's nice to have this spray.
The first day I used the NEOSPORIN® on my mom. She came over the day I received it. She cut her finger on something and when I went to grab a bandage and some alcohol she reminded me of the NEOSPORIN® and told me we should test it out on her. Oh yeah! I'm glad she reminded me because I had almost forgotten I received it in the mail that day even though I had just told her about it when she saw it on the table. Your mind slips after a certain age.
I put some NEOSPORIN® on her finger, but hesitated at first because I didn't know the difference between ointment and cream. I figured cream is to put on in deeper wounds and when using a bandage whereas the cream would be used on minor scratches or burns. Am I wrong?
Over the next few days I used the stuff on my kids and my neighbor who is helping me remodel my house. My neighbor says NEOSPORIN® is the stuff he has in his medicine cabinets. I guess that means he likes it. My kids don't wince or yell in retreat when I try to apply it on them like they do with the other stuff. I like that a lot. It makes nursing cuts and scratches a lot easier. I have yet to use the stuff on myself. I'm not use to taking care of myself I guess. The good news is that I have it in the downstairs restroom now in case I ever need it.
The other good news is that my first aid items are now all downstairs in one place. I still need to buy a medicine box for all the supplies, but at least it is all organized and up to date now. By the ways I have a question for NEOSPORIN®. What do we do with the expired medicine? It isn't environmentally friendly to trash the expired stuff, but it isn't safe to keep for use either. Any suggestions?
This product review was done on behalf of Mom Central and Johnson’s. For more information or questions visit the NEOSPORIN® website http://www.neosporin.com.
If you would like to put a first aid kit together this is what NEOSPORIN® suggests on their website (as well as a lot of other useful first aid care information) to put together:
* Sterile Bandages
* NEOSPORIN® First Aid Antibiotic Ointment
* Ice packs
* Elastic bandages
* Acetaminophen or ibuprofen (make sure you have a dosing chart, too)
* Small, sharp scissors to cut tape and hanging skin
* Alcohol pads
* Thermometer
* Tweezers
* Gauze and adhesive tape
* Antihistamine such as Benadryl® brand to treat minor allergic reactions
* Bottled water
* List of important telephone numbers; including your pediatrician, Poison Control Center and other emergency contacts.
Okay! So my kit is almost complete. I still need an Antihistamine and a list of numbers.
I grew up with JOHNSON'S®. My mom used JOHNSON'S® on my sibling and I as we were growing up, not just as babies, but as kids too. I remember the smell. It was always so pleasantly soft-like the way a baby smells naturally. In fact, for a long time I really thought that this was how babies smelled naturally. I later discovered, after having kids of my own the smell of spit-up and dirty diapers was a baby's usual smell and that the baby smell I grew up loving was actually the magic of JOHNSON'S®. Though, I will say this, babies do have a beautiful natural smell without JOHNSON'S® so long as they don't spit up or poop, which is not very often.
JOHNSON'S® is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and along with their 50th anniversary celebration JOHNSON'S® is introducing two new products to its name: JOHNSON'S® HEAD-TO-TOE® Foaming Wash and JOHNSON'S® Baby Bubble Bath & Wash. Thanks to Mom Central and JOHNSON'S® I was given the opportunity to test both of these new products on my own baby. This lets you know how much I trust a company to try it on my baby.
The JOHNSON'S® HEAD-TO-TOE® Foaming Wash was easy to use. I could hold my baby with one arm and with the other hand easily pump the head of the soap container to pump out just enough foam to wash my baby. One pump for the front and one pump for the back. How did my baby enjoy it? He loves his baths and wasn't bothered by it at all. No tears.
On another day I tried the JOHNSON'S® Baby Bubble Bath & Wash. 2 caps full was enough bubbles for my baby's bath. The bubbles lasted the entire bath. How did my baby smell after the bath? Soft and sweet. Was my baby content? Yes. Did he care about the soap? Probably not. He just enjoys baths, but I care about what I'm washing my baby with.
Both of these products are made for sensitive skin which my baby has. All babies do, but some more than others. My only wish is that JOHNSON'S® continues to make new products and that somewhere soon down the line they come up with a line of environmentally friendly soaps. Maybe one day their slogan will read No More Tears and 100% natural, biodegradable and eco-friendly. I would love that.
For more information on the new products visit http://www.youtube.com/baby
Green Works has just added a new item to its line of products- Green Works Natural Biodegradable Cleaning Wipes. "The new Wipes are made from 100% cellulose fibers and derived from renewable farm grown trees. Like all Green Works products, they are formulated using biodegradable ingredients, are packaged in recyclable canisters and not tested on animals."
My sample arrived in the mail on the 23 of January. The day they arrived, as I opened up the canister to pull out a wipe and see what it looked and smelled like, my 4 year old threw up on my reupholstered sofa and laminate floor. It turns out my girls had some sort of stomach bug for a whole weekend. I'm told it’s going around.
Fortunately the nice scented wipes came in very handy to wipe away those bacteria. Their nice scent covered up the vomit smell well. I cleaned the mess up with towel first and then used the wipes to disinfect. They are convenient for wiping kitchen and bathroom counters clean too, but it does take a lot of wipes to do the job because they are not as large or as durable as I would like and they don't retain moisture for long.
I don't buy cleaning wipes, I'm use to using old rags and spray to clean around the house, but I have used cleaning wipes in the past and they seemed more durable than these Clorox ones. In fact, I think I've used the regular Clorox wipes before and as I recall they were very durable, unfortunately they were not eco-friendly. So I would love to see Clorox continue to make these eco-friendly wipes, but find a way to improve them by making the wipes bigger, more durable and able to hold moisture longer.
SPECIAL NOTE:
"Through its new "Green Heroes Grant Program," the brand team will award five grants of $10,000 each to eco-friendly community projects across the country.
Between January 15 and February 28, 2009, individuals can nominate eco-friendly community projects for a Green Heroes grant by submitting a photo and short essay about the project for consideration online at www.greenworkscleaners.com/greenhero. Each winner - or "Green Hero" - will receive a $10,000 grant to help their eco-friendly community projects grow and flourish!
Then, beginning on March 16 through April 10, 2009, the public will have the opportunity to vote online for their favorite eco-friendly community project. The final five Green Heroes will be announced on April 22 - just in time for Earth Day.
For more information about the Green Heroes Grant Program, including official contest rules and entry guidelines, log on to www.greenworkscleaners.com/greenhero. "
For more information about Green Works and its new product visit the Green Works website http://www.greenworkscleaners.com. My review is in accordance with Mom Central.
I start this review by stating that I'm not very fond of Barbie and her friends. My daughters on the other hand are. I believe most little girls are at about this age. It must have something to do with Barbie's perfection and flawless beauty. I'm not sure. Still, with that said I would also like to say that if my daughters are going to be fans of a doll I would rather them be fans of Barbie rather than a Bratz.
A few months ago, my oldest daughter had mentioned something about her friend reading a Barbie and Diamond Castle book and how she was interested in it, so when the opportunity to review the DVD came along I was happy to be accepted, because I knew my daughter would be excited. I was right. The day that the DVD arrived she went on and on in excitement and she said she couldn't wait to tell her friend.
We didn't watch the DVD right away. Instead I had something to do around the house and then I had to make dinner. During that time my daughters were playing in the living room. My oldest, who knew better and had been warned, was swinging between the coffee table and the sofa. She slipped, cut her chin and it bled. She was terrified and in pain. I cleaned her up, patched her up, gave her children's tylenol and told her to relax. Still she felt pain.
I decided then to help her get her mind off of her chin we would all watch the DVD while eating dinner in the livingroom. It worked. Just a few minutes into the movie and my daughter forgot all about her chin. In fact I had to remind her to eat. She just absolutely loved the songs and the music. I found her often singing along.
My youngest cheered for the puppies, danced along to the music, smiled at me when something good would happen and got close to me when "scary" stuff would happen.
I'm glad my daughters enjoyed it and that unlike other barbie movies we have seen in the past, this one had some meaning to it- the meaning of friendship. I also thought it was neat that one of the songs was by Katharine McPhee from American Idol.
For more information on this DVD visit here http://barbie.everythinggirl.com/diamond-castle/ also visit the We Believe in Girls website here http://www.webelieveingirls.com/.
I'm pregnant so receiving chocolate in the mail was like celebrating my birthday early. I was happy and went so far as to sniff the bars. I know this sounds crazy but it is what I did. They smelled so good.
I am ashamed to admit though, that during pregnancy I tend to get greedy with certain foods. As I held the 5 chcolate bars in my hands I debated for a long while how many I should share with my family and which ones. Don't be upset with me or think of me as a bad mother, but I considered not sharing at all. Still, I reluctantly dediced sharing would be the right thing to do. I decided to share at least two with my daughters. I knew it would bring joy to their faces. I picked to share the milk chcolcate with them, but when I tried to open the milk chocolate one I discovered it was melted. So I tried another bar and another. They were all melted and a few of them broken. Ripping off the pretty gold foil would have only made a mess so I stuck the bars in my fridge and told my girls we could try some tomorrow. They were very disappointed, but understood. I gave them another snack instead to make up for it. I have to say the shipping method of this product was not the smartest. Chocolate melts.
Sticking them in the fridge was the key though. The next day I gave my kids a third of the milk bar. They ate it up and enjoyed it, my oldest did say it was good, but not her favorite. I have to agree. We are very picky about our chocolate. My youngest wanted more. I gave her more.
The packaging is beautiful ( I love the gold wrapper) and the description of these bars " made with rich and creamy milk chocolate and all-natural ingredients" leads a person to believe that the chocolate is mouth watering. I have to ask though what exactly does Ghirardelli mean by all-natural means. This term is often misused and can be misleading. Most ingredients are natural.
Since the milk chocolate bar, I have tried the hazelnut and the crisp bars. These were also good. I have two bars left. The almond one will be for me and the duet for my girls. Well to be honest I started the Almond bar while writing this review. I'm pregnant I can't help it and like I said they are good.
Of the 3 I tried I think the crisp is my favorite. No it's the Almond one. No....I can't decide. I like both of these the best. I'll let you know about the last one later.
If you would like to try Ghirardelli you can find it at local Wal-Marts, Walgreens, Borders, and Linens N Things and it will soon be in Target, Blockbuster, and Cost Plus stores
Did you know Green Works has a website you can visit for green tips and stories?
The video diaries are interesting. Pam is my favorite. Though Mary seems to have the most videos available right now. The videos diaries are about 3 moms and their green lives (at least for 30 days) with Green Works. To be honest I was a bit jealous of all the stuff these moms received to do the video diaries. Then again they do have to show their homes and how clean or not clean their homes are. That takes guts. I hate to clean and my house is nowhere near clean as their homes, which makes me wonder how clean Green Works could get a dirty house.
The daily green tips are the best. The tips are short and simple just the way I like them. For example, this was the second tip I received "Freshen up your air freshener. Create your own natural air-freshening mist with water and lavender or lemon". I have water and lemon in my home. I can do this. I don't have to go buy stuff to do it.
There is also information on Green Works, how it came about and why it came about . Other benefits include joining the Facebook Green Works fan club, if you wish. Which I did :)
What I don't like about the site is the back ground noise. It was nice at first. but then after a while it just got on my nerves. Is there a way to turn it off? The volume button on the site doesn't seem to work. I also don't like that the videos freeze up when I try to go from one to the next. I have to log out of the site and then back in. Hopefully this will be taken care of soon.
If you would like to take a look at the site or for more information go to www.30daystonatural.com
It feels good when as a mother I can anticipate what my daughters will say, do or even ask, but as much as I anticipated that it would come soon I was caught off guard how it came about. Let me explain what I mean. Several months ago when I became aware that I was pregnant I also knew my curious six year old would begin asking questions. So when the opportunity came a long to review the DVDs, The Birds, The Bees and Me for girls, I took it. I wanted to be prepared for the day that she wanted to know about sex. This past Friday was that day. It turns out that my daughter and a few of her friends talked about what they thought they knew about sex at recess time.
My daughter then came home and began to say the word sex, which I had never heard come out her mouth before. So I encouraged her to tell me what it is she knew about sex and how she found out. It was so cute watching her wiggle and twiddles her fingers as she told me and yet at the same time I could not wipe off the nervous smile off my face. I continued to tell her that she was partly right and decided in my head right there and then that it was better that she learned what sex really is from me than from someone else. I then told her, since it was close to her bedtime, that I had a special video I wanted her to watch the next day. She was so excited, buts afraid I would forget (I can be forgetful when I'm pregnant) that she grabbed a sheet of paper and a marker from my desk and wrote in big letters "Can You Sho Me A Video of Sex" and then signed her name and placed the note on my desk.
The next day, like I promised, I sat down next to her, but before I showed her the video, which I realized from watching a few weeks earlier was still about a year or two too mature for her, and I explained in my own simple words what sex was. She took it all pretty well. The menstrual cycle, the body growing, and so on. The big shocker came at the end and the face she made will stay with me forever. It made wonder if I explained too much to such a young mind. I then proceeded with the video, which she watched and understood until it began to explain about the sperm and the egg. She teared up a bit and from what I could tell was a bit overwhelmed with information despite the simplicity of the video. Still it was the only visual aid I had to show her what I had earlier explained to her.
I then continued on to tell her that it was okay if she didn't understand everything all at once. The older she became the more she would understand and if she had any question all she had to do was ask me. She shook her head okay, smiled and seemed relieved. Her questions have made me laugh and twiddle my fingers. For example she has asked me if I had sex with her father. I answered her honestly, but then wondered in the back of my mind if she would figure out that the tickle fight my husband and I told her we were having those few time she walked in on us, were not tickle wars at all. When shopping for a wedding dress for my little sister she asked her if she had sex with her fiancé. I overheard, my sister turned to me with a look and then we both kindly told her that that was something private between two people. Today she asked me a few times how I know when it is time to have sex and of course I answered "not until you are much much older!" The experiences has been eye opening, funny, in a way sad at the loss of her innocence and a bunch of other mixed feelings.
As for the video it was a great visual aid (a little old fashioned) but as I mentioned before two years too mature for my daughter. An 8 year old and older would benefit from it I believe. And it isn't long and boring, but long enough for a kid to build up a list of questions and then ask mom and dad later. I kind of wish there was a video that would give parents answers to questions kids have about sex.
I still wonder if I told my daughter too much too soon, but I would still rather her find out from me what sex really is than from one of her friends or some stranger or who knows. When my best friend was a little girl it was her perverted uncle that taught her about sex. The way I see it, the more my daughter knows the safer she will be.
I've had a few days to sample Clorox’s GreenWorks Natural Dishwashing Liquid and I have to say I'm not disappointed. I was skeptical at first that Clorox a non eco-friendly company could actually provide an eco-friendly product, but it turns out they have a whole line of earth-friendly products, from green toilet cleaners to green dishwashing liquids.
Are they really eco-friendly? According to the back of the label of the Clorox’s GreenWorks Natural Dishwashing Liquid, the dishwashing liquid is at least.I haven't tried their other products yet. Here are a few of the things my dishwashing sample contains: No bleach, no phosphorus, coconut-based cleaning agents, biodegradable preservatives, has not been tested on animals, and comes in recycled packaging.
How does it clean? It takes the grease of my dishes well. How does it smell? It isn't camouflaged with exotic scents. It just smells clean and natural. How does it rinse off my hands? Many dishwashing soaps take quite a bit of rinsing to rinse of my hands, this soap just rinses off.
I'm glad to know that Clorox has a green line of products. I grew up with Clorox, but when I began learning about the health risks and the environmental dangerous household cleaning products could cause I began to switch to greener companies with green products. Maybe now I can switch back to Clorox. What do you think?
"Green Works has joined with the Sierra Club in support of their efforts to conserve clean air, water, and wildlife, and all of their products carry the Sierra Club logo. Additionally, the EPA has recognized the dish soap for using environmentally preferred chemistry, with their logo also proudly displayed on the bottle. As it arrives nationwide this August, Green Works Dishwashing Liquid comes in five scents: Original, Water Lily, Tangerine, Free & Clear, and Simply Lemon."
In short: my kids love this game. The hands on pieces made them so excited to play each time we played.
My youngest a 3 year old, two months away from 4 years old, mastered the water log game after only a few times. I didn't think she could maintain that control but she did. My oldest daughter, who understands why I have the game "to review”, made sure to tell me to write in the review that she loves the game. She actually said "I love the game" and "This is a really cool game". In fact at the end of our very first game, with a big smile she says, "That was fun!"
At the doctors office a few weeks ago she sat beside me as I waited for my OBGYN doctor and she looked through a baby magazine to see pictures of babies. In the magazine she noticed an ad for Noodleboro. She was so excited to see a game we had at home was in the ad, but then she quickly noticed that we didn't have the other available games from Noodleboro and she began to tell me, "We don't have the pizza one. Can we get the pizza one?" I said I would have to think about it. She told me to ask one to be sent to me for review. I chuckled and told her "It doesn't work that way". "Can we buy it?" she asked. I told her I'd think about it.
She then continued on by moving away from me and showing her little sister what she found and the one she was interested in. Kids are never satisfied, but they sure are smart. Maybe I'll buy the Pizza one as a Holiday present.
As a mom the game features I like are: the color spin wheel, the storybook (though not so much the story itself) and the several hands on pieces. Most games have one or two hands on pieces. This game has several: tent show, ferris wheel, log flume, roller coaster, colorful die, storybook, music cd, etc. It is a all very clear and separated into pieces, unlike Shuttes and Ladders and other games like that where everything is on one board and cluttered together. I liked that this game could be spread out and played.
The only things I did not like about the game: it was not made of recycled plastic and I still don't understand the purpose of the Moontracker. Why is it there and what happens when you reach the top? Do you go back to the first moon and start over. This was not very clear.
Contest entry page.
Mom Central is raffling 200 Noodleboro games off to Moms who sign up through this link. So sign-up and enter to win.
The Flip and Tumble is a nice sized bag. According to the website, the exact measurement of each bag is 12"x14"x5" with a 26" strap. The strap of the bag has a nice shape and length that makes it easy to fit around the shoulder. The strap is also thinly padded for extra comfort.
Its compact ability is a great feature. When compacted it is rolled up into a little soft ball. How? The bag easily stuffs back into itself by being stuffed into the attached pocket. Because it stuffs easily and softly into itself it takes up less space than other compact reusable bags such as the zippered ones. The size that that the Flip and Tumble compacts into makes it small enough to fit in a purse, in a vehicle cup holder or even in pant pockets. The size and ease of use and storage no longer provides the famous excuse "I forgot to bring my reusable bag" to be used again.
The bag, with its simple solid color, is indeed stylish enough to carry around everywhere: restaurant, gym, grocery store, farmer's market, visiting friends and family, etc. The bags material (lightweight ripstop nylon) is stretchy and allows for a good amount of items to fit inside. I can fit my gym items (water bottle, CD, wallet, etc.) inside with no trouble. In fact now I can also stuff a towel in the bag if I need.
The bag has the capacity to hold 25 lb. To prove this I tested it out and placed 25 lbs of free weights inside the bag. It held well, though the strap pad did little to pad my shoulder. The padding did not make my load feel any lighter. Then again I don't see myself carrying around 25lbs of solid weight. Do I? How much does two gallons of milk way?
My favorite aspect of the bag is that once it's worn and overused it can be sent back to the Flip and Tumble Company to be recycled. In other words nothing goes to waste and thousands of plastic bags stay out of the landfill thanks to the reusable bag.
The only thing I don't like about the bag is that if I toss it in my car and its filled to the top with items it topples over and the items spill out. I'd love it if there were a few snap buttons across the top of the bag, or some Duffy Velcro making it easier to keep the stuff in the bag inside the bag.
The $12 bag comes in the following colors: lime, evergreen, pink, blue and black. Though, a bit pricy for just one bag (as compared to the dull dollar grocery store bags with the store name on it I've bought) I will say that the Flip and Tumble is a lot cheaper than most reusable "stylish" bags available.
"Preserve Toothbrush was designed by dentists and engineers to be an innovation in both oral care and eco-friendliness." How well do they brush? To find out I took the opportunity from MomCentral to test and review these Preserve toothbrushes.
How is the toothbrush made? The toothbrush handle has a dentist-recommended 45° curved handle and soft bristles. The handle is made from recycled plastic, including Stonyfield Farm® yogurt cups. Are the bristles really soft? Yes! Comfortably soft.
What I like best about this line of toothbrushes is that the toothbrushes aren't just made of recycled material but they are recycled once again when they've worn. Dentists recommend that they be replaced every 3 months. To have these toothbrushes recycled once they've worn, print a mailing label from the Recycline website and mail the toothbrush and its case back (for free!) to Recycline to be recycled into plastic decking, picnic tables and boardwalks!
Please conserve by mailing as many as you can in one package, though due to post office restrictions, Recycline can only accept packages under 13 ounces.
As a consumer I'm completely satisfied with this product... well as always I have a suggestions. If I could change anything about the Preserve toothbrushes it would be the mail back system. Instead of mailing the toothbrushes back why not have drop off sites at certain locations (maybe Target) so that a bulk amount of toothbrushes can be mailed back at once, cutting down on packaging and emission cost. Wouldn't this be more eco-friendly?
Recycline also has a whole line of other recycled and recyclable products such as: Preserve juniors for children 2-8. These toothbrushes are made just as eco-friendly but with and easier handle grip for children. In addition, there are Preserve tongue cleaners, toothpicks, triple razors, cutting boards, picnic ware, and more. Check them out at the Recycline Website.
Preserve toothbrushes are available at Target stores nationwide for only $2.04. For Recycline Preserve coupons visit the Recycline website.
A few months ago I received a sample of lotion called Gloves In A Bottle. Does it really feel like an invisible pair of gloves? Yeah! I often used it to help soothe my sometimes very dry skin. I found that I only had to reapply about twice a day. I used Gloves In A Bottle on my face, legs, hands, etc. I found it worked well throughout my skin. The only thing I did not like about the lotion is that contrary to the advertisement to it being a nonstick lotion I found it to be a bit sticky and a bit greasy. This only felt uncomfortable though when I applied to my hands and worked at my desk (which is when I usually apply) on other parts of my skin this was not a problem at all. Gloves In A Bottle is also fragrance free, hypoallergenic and non-toxic.
For a complete and detailed listing of the ingredients in Gloved In A Bottle visit the ingredients list.
With the two Ragu Fresh and Simple Packets sauce samples I received a few weeks ago, I was able to make two family meals ( a family of 3: 1 adult and 2 children). There was no extra sauce to store in the fridge , nor was there a need to open up another pouch to add more.
What I admire about the samples: the Ragu Fresh and Simple Packets sauce did not contain preservative (awesome), nor was any sugar added (love that), and a full serving of vegetables is in every 1/2 cup of pasta sauce (always a good thing). The pasta sauce also smells great, especially the tomato basil sample. The taste was good. It wasn't great as my husbands homemade sauce, but for a quick ready to have sauce it was good.
I did not use the microwave to heat these sauce. Though using the microwave is a handy option I avoid using the microwave whenever I can for personal reason. Instead I heated the thick sauce on the stove in a sauce pan mixed in with diced fresh veggies, mushrooms and ground beef. This makes the sauce chunky too. I love chunky sauce. In fact even if Ragu had a chunky version of this product I would still cut up fresh veggies and add it to the sauce. It's just me.
My children enjoyed the meals made with these two samples. I personally enjoyed the tomato basil flavor over the garden veggie flavor.
Changes I would make to the product if I had a say in it, would be: make the pouches easier to open (without scissors). It's great that there is no longer a need to use a can opener, but there is still a need to have a handy pair of scissors around to cut these Ragu pouches. I would also like it if the pouches were recyable. I try to recycle eveything. This is why I like glass jars and cans. I would have really been delighted if an organic version of these sauces were available too.
First, I have to start of saying I love Ocean Spray's craisans. I know this product is not part of the tour, but I still felt I had to mention them since I really can't live without them. If they were a drug I would be an addict. If only they were just a bit cheaper and came in eco-friendly packaging I'd be even more addicted and buy more .
Moving on to the actual product. I received 2 different flavored 12 FL oz (perfect lunch size by the way) of Cranergy drinks. The cranberry flavored was not my favorite as it has a strong taste that took by surprise at first with a slight after taste. Still once I became accustomed to it, it was quite good.
However, the raspberry cranberry was delicious from the first sip to the last. Absolutely delicious.
Did they give me more energy...I really couldn't tell, but to be honest its kind of hard to tell from just two drinks. What I could tell is that they tasted delicious (one more than the other) and that Ocean Spray products tend to be delicious, so far as my experience goes. They also tend to be healthy. That said, I would take another sip if I had the chance.
For what purpose?
I would serve these drinks at a party rather than soda's which a lot of people buy for the energy they think they get from caffeine. I'd rather have something refreshing like this instead. I wouldn't buy it in individual containers though. I would buy one large container of this and then refill refillable bottles with it. (It reduces packaging this way).
The eco in me wants to ask for an organic line of these please. Ocean Spray already has a line of organic juices they just need to add organic Cranergy to the list. By the way I looked and looked today and my grocery store doesn't carry Ocean Spray Organic Juices. This was disappointing. I will have to ask my store to add them to the list :).
What do Pond's, Mamma Mia!. and You have in common?
Pond's has partnered with the big screen remake of Mamma Mia! It is coming to theaters this summer. Women 40 and older are invited to form a singing trio to perform their own take on the classics "Mamma Mia" or "Dancing Queen" and submit videos of their performances via the Pond's website.
For music and lyrics to rehearse to download music and lyrics from the Pond's website.
The deadline for submissions is April 30th so hurry up and use these next few days to show off your voice and dancing feet. If you live near Broadway you can also audition live on April the 28th.
"A panel of judges will choose 5 dynamic trios as finalists, and their videos will be posted on this site on May 22. All of America is invited to vote online to determine the winning trio."
The winners (you and two of your friends) of the contest will win an awesome trip to London and the world premiere of Mamma Mia! The Movie.
For more information about this fun contest visit the Pond's website.
My daughter entered kindergarten this year. During the first semester the nurse sent out at least 2 letters to all parents about the infestation of lice and what to do about it in case our children got a head of lice. I worried that if it ever came down to it I would have to buy this powerful (potentially harmful) medicine for my children and have no choice but to use it on their heads. I sought safer alternatives and found none... then I read about Lice MD and had the opportunity to receive a sample of it. I have yet to try the sample (my kids fortunately do not have lice) but I am ecstatic about the idea that if they ever do I will have a box of LIceMD ready to use on them. It is pesticide free, non-toxic, dye free, odorless and free of harsh chemicals. The instructions of use are just as many as the toxic alternatives and it still requires the need to thoroughly clean your home at times of infestation, but the wonderful difference is how much safer it is for children. That is always a good thing. LiceMD
How well do you care for your mouth and teeth? Me? Not as well as I should. It helps though, to be a part of tours like LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE Blog Tour. 
A few months ago I received a sample of lotion called Gloves In A Bottle. Does it really feel like an invisible pair of gloves? Yeah! I often used it to help soothe my sometimes very dry skin. I found that I only had to reapply about twice a day. I used Gloves In A Bottle on my face, legs, hands, etc. I found it worked well throughout my skin. The only thing I did not like about the lotion is that contrary to the advertisement to it being a nonstick lotion I found it to be a bit sticky and a bit greasy. This only felt uncomfortable though when I applied to my hands and worked at my desk (which is when I usually apply) on other parts of my skin this was not a problem at all. Gloves In A Bottle is also fragrance free, hypoallergenic and non-toxic.
With the two Ragu Fresh and Simple Packets sauce samples I received a few weeks ago, I was able to make two family meals ( a family of 3: 1 adult and 2 children). There was no extra sauce to store in the fridge , nor was there a need to open up another pouch to add more. 
What do Pond's, Mamma Mia!. and You have in common? 
My daughter entered kindergarten this year. During the first semester the nurse sent out at least 2 letters to all parents about the infestation of lice and what to do about it in case our children got a head of lice. I worried that if it ever came down to it I would have to buy this powerful (potentially harmful) medicine for my children and have no choice but to use it on their heads. I sought safer alternatives and found none... then I read about Lice MD and had the opportunity to receive a sample of it. I have yet to try the sample (my kids fortunately do not have lice) but I am ecstatic about the idea that if they ever do I will have a box of LIceMD ready to use on them. It is pesticide free, non-toxic, dye free, odorless and free of harsh chemicals. The instructions of use are just as many as the toxic alternatives and it still requires the need to thoroughly clean your home at times of infestation, but the wonderful difference is how much safer it is for children. That is always a good thing.